Pen & Polish

If you’ve ever tried to give “nice” feedback by using the classic compliment sandwich—positive, critique, then another positive—you’re not alone.

We do it to soften the blow. To be kind. To keep the peace.

But here’s the thing: our brains are wired with a negativity bias. Even if we wrap a critique in two positive notes, what sticks is the critique. The compliment sandwich doesn’t cut it anymore.

If you’re a writer, editor, or content creator, feedback is a huge part of your work. Whether you’re collaborating with a client, reviewing a draft, or offering peer critique, how you give feedback matters.

That’s why I started using the SBI method—and I haven’t looked back.

Download your Free SBI Feedback Toolkit at the end of this article!

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💡 What is SBI?

SBI stands for Situation – Behavior – Impact. It’s a straightforward framework that helps you give clear, respectful, and actionable feedback—without sounding vague or overly critical.

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🧭 S – Situation

Start by describing when and where the feedback applies.
📌 Be specific: “In Monday’s blog article draft…”
🛑 Avoid: “In your recent writing…”

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🔍 B – Behavior

Describe what the person did—not your interpretation of it.
📌 “You used five consecutive sentences that began with ‘Perhaps…’”
🛑 Not: “You sounded unsure.”

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🌱 I – Impact

Explain how the behavior affected the reader, team, or outcome.
📌 “It made the tone feel less confident, which may cause the reader to question your authority.”
🛑 Not: “It just didn’t feel right.”

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🎯 Why Writers & Editors Love SBI

• It’s specific and efficient—great for deadlines and drafts
• It avoids vague phrases like “this could be stronger”
• It’s a tool for growth, not guilt

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🛠️ Try This Example:

“In your blog post draft from Thursday, the intro opened with three rhetorical questions in a row. It felt a bit repetitive and might lose the reader’s attention early on.”

A key takeaway with this method is that you don’t have to provide a solution. You’re providing feedback. Give the receiver time to absorb and think about the feedback without bombarding them with your advice or a personal story about how it happened to you once, too.

Instead, wait and see what the receiver takes from the feedback. Ask if they would like suggestions, and then respect their answer. SBI is giving the receiver an opportunity to take the feedback and run with it, that’s partially why being specific is so important. SBI is about growth and empowerment.

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📥 Want to Try It?

I created a one-page SBI Toolkit for Writers & Editors—complete with fill-in-the-blank prompts and quick tips to help you give feedback that supports, encourages, and elevates your message.

📌 Download the Free SBI Feedback Toolkit here

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💬 Closing Thoughts

Giving feedback doesn’t have to feel awkward or vague. With SBI, it can be thoughtful, direct, and actually helpful.

Ready to ditch the compliment sandwich?